Former MP David Drew supports petition to stop badger cull (From Stroud News and Journal)

Former MP David Drew supports petition to stop badger cull

11:04am Tuesday 3rd August 2010 in News By Rachel Clare

FORMER Stroud MP David Drew is throwing his weight behind a petition which has been launched to stop the cull of badgers planned by the coalition Government.

A meeting is set to be held in Stroud with a number of expert speakers where residents will be able to sign the petition and hear evidence against the badger cull.

"The coalition Government is planning a huge badger culling exercise - despite there being no scientific evidence that this will do anything to reduce bovine TB," said Mr Drew.

"Millions of pounds have been spent, and thousands of badgers already killed as part of a huge survey - but all it showed was that killing badgers did not reduce bovine TB."

The public meeting, at 7pm on Friday, August 20 at Stroud's Sub Rooms, will include talks by Dr Chris Cheeseman and Pauline Kidner, who are experts in badger research. Supporters of the Labour Animal Welfare Society will be in Stroud High Street every Saturday morning until the meeting so that people can sign the petition, which will also be available at Stroud Labour Party office in Lansdown, open every weekday morning.